Continuous casting method and apparatus for producing preliminary profiles, in particular double T preliminary profiles

Abstract

With a continuous casting method for producing preliminary profiles, in particular double T preliminary profiles, the downwardly flowing cooling water is pushed out of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand ( 3 ) via the profile flanges and discharged using water nozzles ( 21, 22 ) aligned substantially to the crossover from the bar ( 4 ) to the respective flange ( 5, 6 ) by means of the diverting water delivered via the water nozzles ( 21, 22 ). In this way the excessive cooling caused by downwardly running cooling water is largely avoided in the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. In a continuous casting method for producing preliminary profiles, in which a preliminary profile strand is guided through a curved strand guide and cooling water is applied to the preliminary profile strand as it is guided through the curved strand guide, the preliminary profile strand having a cross-sectional shape including a bar and two side flanges, the method comprising:
 directing diverting water from a first water nozzle against an internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and at a first crossover region from the bar to a first one of the side flanges of the preliminary profile strand, the first nozzle being oriented to have an outlet portion at a first end that is more proximate the first crossover region than a remaining portion of the first nozzle and the remaining portion of the first nozzle including a second end opposite the first end and being more proximate a center of the bar than the outlet portion of the first nozzle, and the first nozzle being in alignment with the first crossover region such that the diverting water being directed from the first nozzle pushes the cooling water out of the first crossover region of the preliminary profile strand via the first side flange of the preliminary profile strand; 
 directing diverting water from a second water nozzle against the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and at a second crossover region from the bar to a second one of the side flanges of the preliminary profile strand opposite the first side flange, the second nozzle being oriented to have an outlet portion at a first end that is more proximate the second crossover region than a remaining portion of the second nozzle and the remaining portion of the second nozzle including a second end opposite the first end and being more proximate the center of the bar than the outlet portion of the second nozzle, and the second nozzle being in alignment with the second crossover region such that the diverting water being directed from the second nozzle pushes the cooling water out of the second crossover region of the preliminary profile strand via the second side flange of the preliminary profile strand; and 
 collecting cooling water pushed out of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and diverting water directed against the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand by means of a collecting apparatus arranged above the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising discharging the cooling water and the diverting water collected by the collecting apparatus therefrom. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting the water nozzles to a common water attachment. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising arranging the water nozzles to be movable laterally relative to the flanges of the preliminary profile strand. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water nozzles are arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and alongside a substantially vertical portion of the curved strand guide. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water nozzles are arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and alongside an approximately central region of the curved strand guide between an initial vertical portion and a terminal portion thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water nozzles are arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and alongside an approximately central region of the curved strand guide between an initial vertical portion and a terminal portion thereof and at an angle of approximately 45° to a tangent of a curve of the preliminary strand profile. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing strand guide segments and modules along the curved strand guide separated from one another, the water nozzles being arranged between two adjacent ones of the strand guide segments and modules. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the water nozzles are arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and alongside an approximately central region of the curved strand guide between an initial vertical portion and a terminal portion thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water nozzles are positioned to lie in a common plane. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising aligning the water nozzles at a pre-specified angle to a tangent of a curve of the preliminary strand profile. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing strand guide segments and modules along the curved strand guide separated from one another, the water nozzles being arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand after a downstream one of the strand guide segments and modules. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing strand guide segments and modules along the curved strand guide; and 
 providing an aligning unit downstream of the strand guide segments and modules, 
 the water nozzles being arranged on a side of the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and between the aligning unit and an adjacent one of the strand guide segments and modules. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compensating for an additional cooling effect brought about by the diverting water by reducing the flow of cooling water. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the diverting water before directing it against the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adjusting cooling of the preliminary profile strand by adjusting a temperature to which the diverting water is heated. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preliminary profile strands are double T preliminary profile strands. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water nozzles are arranged above the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and alongside an at least partly vertical portion of the curved strand guide,
 the first and second nozzles being positioned after a guide roller in a direction of movement of the preliminary profile strand such that the guide roller prevents cooling water from flowing along the bar of the preliminary profile strand and causes cooling water to flow into and downwardly along the first and second crossover regions and first and second side flanges of the preliminary profile strand; 
 the first nozzle aligning with the first crossover region after the guide roller such that the water directed from the first nozzle diverts the downwardly flowing cooling water by changing a flow direction of the downwardly flowing cooling water and causes the diverted water to flow out of the first crossover region of the preliminary profile strand and over the first side flange of the preliminary profile strand; 
 the second nozzle aligning with the second crossover region after the guide roller such that the water directed from the second nozzle diverts the downwardly flowing cooling water by changing a flow direction of the downwardly flowing cooling water and causes the diverted water to flow out of the second crossover region of the preliminary profile strand over the second side flange of the preliminary profile strand. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second ends of the first and second water nozzles are connected to a common inlet water attachment situated between the outlet portions of the first and second water nozzles. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collecting apparatus has an inlet for the cooling water and the diverting water arranged entirely above the internal curve of the preliminary profile strand and that extends over both the first and second side flanges.